Page 12 of Reclaimed Dreams
Chapter5
2 years ago
Jo entered the coffee shop and walked up behind Sofia, dropping a hand on her shoulder. The poor girl nearly fell out of her chair.
“Whoa! Easy. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“I was daydreaming. Can I get your latte?” Sofia smiled.
Was she really that predictable? “No, darling. I’ll have a mocha.”
Fi’s eyes widened but she didn’t comment. “You look lovely today. What’s the occasion?”
Jo bristled. True, she’d fallen into years of jeans and flannel, but that was because she’d worked in a construction office. She knew how to dress nicely, but between the kids and the job site, she didn’t often get the chance. To have her daughter point out how nice she looked with surprise rubbed her the wrong way.
She didn’t need a reason to look nice. She could put on lipstick and a nice top just because it made her happy. And if she happened to be meeting up with her new friends today, well, that bit of confidence boost wouldn’t go amiss.
“I don’t need a reason to do the things that make me feel good. No time like the present.”
“That’s true.”
Sofia rose to order their coffees, and Jo’s anxiety rose. Why had she told Alessandro to pick her up here? She wasn’t ready for the questions it would generate from Sofia. Jo hauled in a breath and reached for calm. It would all be fine. She didn’t have to do or say anything she didn’t want to.
Sofia passed her the chocolate-laced coffee and settled across from her. “So, how’ve you been, Ma? You haven’t come around the office lately.”
The office. Why should she have to go to the office to see her kids? She had washed her hands of the whole damn thing. Why should she care how it was doing? Her temper began to flicker to life, and she didn’t try to keep it from her voice.
“I’m not giving that place one more minute of my life.”
She’d already given it her hopes and dreams, her husband and her children. She had nothing left to give.
Jo’s phone buzzed in her hand while Sofia said something about the show Jo was actively pretending didn’t exist. “That’s nice, dear.”
The text was from Dom.
D: Where are you?
Oh, now he cared about where she was? He thought he should get to know her plans after not particularly caring about them for years? That was rich. She didn’t need to justify a damn thing to him, since he didn’t feel the need to do it either. The flicker of temper flared and burned at the base of her throat as she typed a one-word reply.
J: Out.
Sensing that Fi had gone quiet, Jo tuned back in. Right, the pilot was done. Whoop-dee-freaking-do. “You know what I mean. I’m sure it was challenging, and I’m glad it’s done now. I didn’t know how you were going to juggle everything. But honestly I hope the show doesn’t get picked up.”
Her phone buzzed again.
D: What do you mean out?
That low burn grew into a ball of rage and she broke and replied.
J: Why do you care? Shouldn’t you be celebrating your precious pilot?
D: I wanted to celebrate with you.
J: Not something I care to celebrate. It doesn’t concern me, and I’ve made plans.
How dare he? It would serve him right if she gave him a taste of his own medicine. She’d just make her decisions for herself, screw the consequences, and see how he felt about it.
“Are we still on for family dinner next Friday?”
